Max Max is back! It’s been 30 years since the last film (the third installment), and a whole 36 years since the first one came out. But director George Miller has resurrected his unique masterpiece, and gives us another Ozploitation extravaganza.

Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) lives in a post-apocalyptic world, where water and greenery are sparse. He is haunted by the deaths of his wife and children, and somehow feels to blame for their demise. The land is run by Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), who is kept alive by various disgusting mechanisms and rules with an iron fist. Owning thousands of slave boys, and an army of road warriors, he controls the people by limiting their water.

Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) is one of his greatest drivers, but she abandons him to escape the tyranny by escaping with five of his wives, all of whom are living on the hope that there is a “green place” where they can live in abundance. Manning a big-rig war machine, she meets up with Max after a vicious car chase as Joe pursues, and together they strategize how to keep going.

There have been plenty of post-apocalyptic worlds in the last 10 years of cinema. “The Road” and “The Book of Eli” to name a couple. The recurring theme is the bleakness and devastation of the environment. The directors emphasize this by using a sepia tone to dumb down all colors. Director of “Mad Max,” George Miller, went against this trend by making everything as bright as possible. It’s still desolate, as the world has become one big desert, but the vibrancy is there.

And unlike many films of the same genre, the hope that spurs people on, is a theme that is not just dashed against the rocks and beaten down, but is resurrected time and again. This is not a movie to depress you. If anything, it’s a story of the strength and resolution of the common people to stand against those that seek to control them.

Is Max a savior? Is Furiosa a savior? No. They are just people who believe in something, and will break themselves to make it happen. They don’t promise a way out, but they do promise results. Furiosa leads through hope and will power. Max leads through guilt and survival instincts. They challenge each other, and despite Max’s early adamant protests that hope shouldn’t be used, his mind is changed.

There are positives to take from this, although it can quite easily be blown out of the water by the consistent explosions, car chases, music, and death rattle of a world we hope never comes to fruition.

It’s a violent film. Very violent. It’s a violent world that they live in, and people live and die on a daily basis, due to cruelty and deprivation. The majority of deaths occur through vehicle explosions or crashes and, therefore, are gruesome and graphic. It could have been made far worse, don’t for a moment picture “Kill Bill” levels here, but it’s in-your-face violence. People are stabbed, shot, mangled, crushed, dragged, torn apart, blown up and tortured. All manner of weapons are used.

The language is moderate due to the single F-word. Other than that, it’s sparse. There are undercurrents of a sexual nature. Immortan Joe has several wives of all shapes and sizes, but they are treated more like slaves. We see some topless women, and the forms of some of his younger wives throughout the film. In a way, this all fits in with the brutal nature of their existence. It isn’t in place to be gratuitous and provide eye candy. Be aware, too, that there are several frightening images of Max’s family, and of other characters in close ups. These could be too intense for the soft-hearted.

Cinematically, George Miller has done a fantastic job. He has recreated his world for the modern day audience. Having read that the majority of the film was done for real (i.e., not CGI), it heightens admiration for the techical difficulty of the project. The cinematography is superb, the car chases and action sequences so well thought out, the two hours just fly by. This is a true action film, where needless dialog doesn’t exist, and it’s left to the action to tell the story.

Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron have a distant connection. It never becomes cheesy, and you always feel there is mutual respect, rather than any kind of affection. The casting is great, Keays-Byrne is a treat to see cast as the main villain again, since the first Mad Max. Nicholas Hoult plays his role with an enthusiasm that endears him, despite his character.

Overall, it’s put together exceptionally well. It’s an adrenalin-boosting thrill ride that never seems to slow down. When you get a moment of calm, you relish it, as you know it’ll explode again. For the cinematic experience, I would gladly pay twice or even three times to go back to see this in theaters again. On the other hand, keep in mind that although the film is an enormous spectacle, it is filled with disturbing evidence of the depravity of mankind, amidst its hopeful notes and courageous fight against evil.

Positive—Firstly, this is a violent film en par with Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto.” And like that film, it is an intense thematic battle between good and evil with moral protagonists in continuous peril. For mature viewers clearly, but, in my opinion, not sickly gratuitous like a “Saw” movie or many others. Also, I am a somewhat jaded movie viewer tired of videogamish CGI and ridiculous acting passing for blockbusters, especially in the action genre.

“Mad Max” blew me away. It is a superlative original directing feat that should set the standards like the original “Matrix” once did. It is incredibly visual and amazingly choreographed for nearly the entire running time. This is a film made for the big 3-D theatre experience.

Parts of it are like Cirque du Soleil on steroids with machine guns and grenades; the rest just mind blowing cinematography at an octane pace. Add in characters who are not only developed over time but are both hard core and vulnerable (not to mention quirky and insane), Charlize with a career performance, and you have an action movie to end all action movies.

George Miller clearly put his whole heart and skill set into this one. No sequel here.My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5

Todd Adams, age 47 (Canada)

Positive—Mad Maxine—Redemption Of The Female Eunuch —“We are not things.”
George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” is a two hour chase movie. It is also, unwittingly, a bold portrait of biblical feminism. Balls to the Wall* Miller delivers the expected testosterone-fest, but not a few men feel like they have been had. The central character is not Max, the ex-cop of the previous films, but a woman called Imperator Furiosa. Even worse, Max spends most of the movie surrounded by women. The film has been called triumphantly feminist by some critics.

In some ways it is, but I would argue that Miller’s gender politics, understood in a biblical light, bring feminism full circle. Womanhood ends up back where it began, but it will never be the same again.

Blood Bag—There are only two ways to achieve prosperity. The first is the promised abundance from the hand of God given after faithful obedience. The second is through slavery and robbery, which turn Eden into Egypt. Miller’s post-apocalyptic story begins in an Eden-gone-wrong, a tree-covered mountain in a desert which withholds its life giving springs as a means of control, releasing only occasional streams of water pumped up from the depths of the Earth as a reminder of its power. An enormous carving above its ruler’s balcony tells us that this is the place of the skull.

The longevity of this city depends upon raids against other gangs of survivors by “war boys,” a brood of Cains, male children rendered sick by radiation but raised to murder and pillage. This is a world filled with violence, the bloodshed given divine sanction through a false religion welded together of relics from the old world, a fusion of scraps of men and machines, ferocious, glorious and hilarious, much like the cars and trucks which serve as extensions of the characters.

The ruler of the citadel is Immortan Joe, the Adamic everyman who has ascended to power — and extended his natural life — through unnatural means. Indeed, everything natural is farmed, exploited and hoarded, from human blood to breast milk. Max, who has told us that his only goal is survival, is himself strapped to a cross on the front of a war vehicle, silent as a lamb beneath a metal muzzle.** He is attached to its dying driver with an IV line, supplying the blood required to sustain the warrior while he takes part in the chase. Despite his claims, right from the beginning, where Max crushes under heel and devours a two-headed desert dragon, he is the truly great one, the Christ.

Hell Hath No Fury—The driver of the plot — and the largest tanker, the War Rig — is Imperator Furiosa, a one-armed woman with a crew cut who is one of Joe’s best raiders. She uses a convoy journey to rescue the young women of Joe’s harem, girls kept for breeding, so it is apt that the body of the tanker is filled with human milk. Furiosa herself was kidnapped as a small child and thrown into the breeding program, but now she is barren, unable to bare children or produce milk. Without her cunning as a raider, she would have remained a throwaway in the eyes of Joe.

Here is a female action hero who is actually a woman. Sexuality after the apocalypse is back to the needs and wants of men — sex and offspring. This angry empress is a used-up supermodel, now devoid of everything that made her desirable, including her hair. She is what feminism has become: a womanhood which escaped exploitation by becoming the exploiter. Germaine Greer’s “female eunuch,” repressed sexually by the constraints of culture, sought to be free of the chains of nature but became something unnatural, something sexless. These things were stolen from Furiosa, but the barren has cause to rejoice. She is not a hero because she can kick and punch, but because she has the motivation of a bereaved mother, the fury of a she-bear. Without children of her own she risks her life to rescue the daughters of men.

Mad World—Some view Max as Furiosa’s sidekick, but in reality he is her enabler. Indeed, he and one of the war boys come to be the only men whom the numerous women in the film learn to trust. It is the women who blame the men not only for their continued exploitation, but also for bringing about the end of the world. Land and womb are both made barren by Adam’s desire for godhood. The planet is poisoned, and even the promised land, the “green place of many mothers” is now a bog filled with scavenging crows, both human and animal.

The refreshing thing about all of Miller’s women is that they are real. Even the stolen supermodels are real people. When Joe discovers that his prized possessions are missing, he sees “We are not things” scrawled in large letters on the wall of the empty harem. Even better are the old women of the desert, grannies on motorbikes who live under the stars, with leathery faces but soft hearts. They are the biggest surprise of the film.

Although they have become suspicious of all men, since men see even the end of the world as an opportunity for gain and control, they still have hope, even though their days are numbered. In Max and Furiosa, they see a reunion of man and woman and a new beginning, a world where Adam will not rule over Eve, and all her desires will be met by him. The two begin in fisticuffs but instead of romance there develops a deep, reciprocal sense of honour.

In the film’s one heartrending scene, after Furiosa’s hopes of reaching the green place are dashed, she falls to her knees, alone in the sand, and lets out a cry of despair. The only way this crew can survive is to return to Joe’s citadel. The movie is a there-and-back-again, which on one level makes the rescue and the chase seem pointless. But as in the Bible, the trip to Egypt and back to Canaan changed Israel forever. Feminism’s green pastures are not “out there.” They are back where women began, but in a home transformed. For Eve to be truly free, she must be empowered by Adam.

Worship the Vehicles—Joe loses his heir, his “mobile throne” (called the Gigahorse) and finally loses his face, all important biblical symbols, in gasoline fuelled chariot battles that take the spectacle of live action to a new level. With sparse dialogue, the film is like the loudest silent movie ever made. As one reviewer noted:

“Imagine if Cirque du Soleil reenacted a Hieronymus Bosch painting and someone set the theatre on fire. This is more or less what Miller has come up with.”***

Joe has gained the whole world but loses his own life. Max and Furiosa have lost everything and yet choose to serve. Max donates his blood once again, but this time voluntarily – to save his counterpart. The final scene is a revelation of the ascension of the bride. Like the Church of Christ, she is beaten and bloodied, her face marred more than any woman. But she has her prize. Max watches as Furiosa is lifted to glory while he humbly disappears into the adoring crowd, a new kind of everyman, a real hero, a Christlike one. And the living waters are released as streams in the desert.

Biblical Feminism—“We’re seeing in the world in many places that women are emerging as a unifying or healing force…” says George Miller. “I think that’s in the zeitgeist.”

Like the women in the wilderness, biblical womanhood is not a state. It is a process of redemption by Covenant. Eve was given to Adam as a gift but he treated her like a “thing” (Genesis 3:12). To protect himself, he depersonalized her. If he had been faithful and protected her, she would have been glorified at his side as a co-regent. We see the same process in the two givings of the Ten Commandments. In Exodus, the women are included with all the other chattels, but in Deuteronomy, they are now listed with their men. The book of Esther tells the same story. Esther, although married to the emperor, is merely a possession until the serpent is crushed and she is enthroned, judging beside her husband. Women must be empowered, but women can only be empowered by faithful men.

*A term used by pilots. When accelerating quickly, the throttle is pushed all the way to the panel and the throttle lever (ball) actually touches the panel (wall).
**The two “war boys,” Nux and Slit, represent the two thieves at the cross. Both curse Max, but Nux eventually comes to bless him, reaching paradise through a spectacular act of self-sacrifice.
***Robbie Collin, Mad Max: Fury Road review: ‘A Krakatoan Eruption of Craziness,’ The Telegraph UK, 20 May 2015.

My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 5

Mike Bull, age 48 (Australia)

Positive—Oh. My. Gosh. Just got back from the theater, this movie was INCREDIBLE. Absolutely loved it. I was sitting on the edge of my seat for the whole ~2 hours, and didn’t get bored once. And that doesn’t happen to me very often. After the credits ended, I sat there speechless, trying to figure out how to communicate my thoughts without screaming gibberish somewhat related to how much I loved it.

There are chick flicks, and there are guy flicks. This is most definitely a guy flick. I’m extremely disappointed with all the negative comments made by people who didn’t even stay through the film, or watch it. One viewer left because of a pregnancy scene… That wasn’t even remotely disturbing… There was literally no gore, and it served a purpose—to show how far gone society is/was, and how inhuman and cruel the protagonist was. Another viewer didn’t even WATCH the film based on what his friend said about a milking scene that hardly even showed boobs! Bleagh, whatever. Don’t listen to them. See all »

For an R-rated movie, this one was extremely tame. There was only one F-bomb, a little tiny bit of nudity (No worse than any PG-13 rated movie) and most of the violence and gore was either off-screen or shown in MASSIVE explosions, sandstorms or other absolutely insane events. Hence my “Better Than Average” rating. I’ve seen PG-13 movies that were more violent, profane and sexual than this one.

I also immensely enjoyed the music truck. It really reminded me of something Slipknot would do. (Metalhead here). The red jumpsuit, mask, thudding drums and a dude playing brutal riffs while suspended from chains. Crazy, insanely epic movie all around. I’m taking my dad to see it for his birthday on Saturday, I think he’ll enjoy it. …Easily the best $7.50 I’ve ever spent on a movie. It gets 7 out of 5 stars in my book. GO SEE IT.

Positive—I am a pastor of a church in Queensland, Australia, and I went to see this movie. I only found out after it that the reviews said the movie was full of sex and swearing. This is not true. There was no sex, and you only see someone’s rear end. This movie had some violence, but it is not as violent as some of the things that happen in the Bible. Overall, it was a good quality movie, and I would recommend it to my friends and family.My Ratings: Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Michael Smith, age 43 (Australia)

Positive—I didn’t see this movie when it first came out, because I had more important things to do (like review other movies; this one got assigned before I could look into it). Part of me wishes I had gone to see it anyway, because it is easily the most stunning movie I have ever seen.

The plot is a little thin, let’s be honest. However, there are many admirable qualities in the hero and heroine. Morally, it is FAR from “very offensive.” There were very few scenes of gore in this movie, and the few that were there only lasted a few seconds and weren’t gratuitous. The sexual content is not salacious, and I didn’t hear any language (apparently there was some, but little enough to be missed).

This film may be largely just entertainment, but it’s surprisingly inspiring at the end. I walked away feeling encouraged. Oh, and by the way, it should NOT be rated R. It should have easily gotten a PG-13.My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Positive—While this is an exhilarating and well-crafted film, mostly I compared it to its predecessor “the Road Warrior,” of which it is essentially a remake, with updated touches of women’s empowerment, video game like intensity, and suicide bomber like “war boys”. I found it wanting by comparison, despite its incredible filming, stunts and choreography. “The Road Warrior” was more human, the characters were interesting, even the villains were interesting. This film is essentially one big chase with one extreme vision and stunt after another, for many an entertaining boundary busting wild ride but with only a flicker of human interest. Both films are faithful to the post-apocalyptic genre the Mad Max movies helped to define, in which humankind has destroyed civilization and is reduced to a brutalized state of scarcity and violence. See all »

Comparisons to the Exodus story are interesting, as here good and some self sacrifice triumphs over evil through violence (in the Exodus story, the violence is in the hands of God, rather than people).

***SPOILER*** There are a number of sci-fi films with endings like this, where a few heroes overthrow the pharaohs, free the slaves and spread the wealth to the many, such as “Logan’s Run,” “Total Recall,” “Wall-E,” “The Lord of the Rings.” While these are satisfying and hopeful endings for films, such endings are not really a substitution for what it takes to build a just society we would want to live in.

What do we think is going to happen after the handful of victorious heroines has taken over the citadel and its mass of miserable inhabitants (Max having disappeared into the crowd like his Western forbears in John Wayne films or Shane), that will allow them to plant all those seeds and turn it into the “green land?”

Perhaps a reminder that these films are a cautionary tale about not destroying the civilization that has taken so long to build and needs so much more civilizing. And of course no one in these movies overcomes evil with good, which is what Jesus said to do.

Positive—First off, within the broad category of Biblical values, I would rate “Mad Max Fury Road” as a fictional story that values a moral worldview. That is to say, it is a classic battle for escape from a bad guy. So, good fleeing evil, and ultimately battling evil—along the lines of an old cowboys and Indians chase through hostile Indian territory. Or Pharaoh chasing the Children of Israel. The film is not a religious film, still it is a classic good vs. evil story at it core.

As far as artistic merit, it is a fantastic visceral action film, with well thought out themes that are not talked all through. Rather, the film is thin on plot, and the characters don’t explain themselves, as much as we witness their actions, and we figure out the story and motivations for ourselves, as exposition is almost non-existent. We are plopped down into a story in process and get to use our imaginations, as the film does not pause to explain it—simply moves forward. See all »

As for character arcs. We have Max who is burnt out and has lost hope in a brutal world. We are introduced to Imperator Furiosa, who is the main protagonist in the story, as she has stolen sex slave “wives” from the cult leader warlord Immortan Joe, and they are fleeing to a safe place where there is plenty of food, water, and freedom. And, finally, we have an ill soldier in Immortan Joe’s army of young men who is involved in the pursuit to capture Furiosa and bring the wives back into custody. In short summary, there is a restoring of hope, there is a gaining of redemption, and there is a glory in sacrifice to save others.

And, of the films noted violence, I feel it needs to be pointed out that it is once again of the classic variety, as say Indiana Jones vs. Nazis in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The action is intense, the chase exciting, but the violence is of necessity, not of enjoyment. Which is to say, the focus is on the heroes fighting to survive and escape, not on sadism. The way the film is masterfully edited accents this by cutting away as one assault is repelled after another. Overall, I feel “Mad Max Fury Road” is a masterpiece of action filmmaking, with the subtle arcs of three main characters that show much thought has gone into what these people must overcome in an adventure of not giving into evil.

My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Phil Early, age 52 (USA)

Positive—It is striking how much Biblical imagery is in this movie. In way, it’s a better Exodus movie than the “Exodus” movie (which didn’t strike me as anything spectacular). You have water from the rock, the freeing of slaves, the search for a Promised Land, you have Pharaoh’s chariots updated to a post-apocalyptic vision… this is a struggle between those who seek something to believe in and those who follow a false god. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Should you be over 17? Definitely.My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5

Anders [an Atheist], age 41 (Sweden)

Neutral

Neutral—As a female Christian, I found this movie viewing experience emotionally stressful. As an avid movie watcher, I thought it a thrilling, impressive and intense ride. The acting was exceptional. At moments of utter despair, you really felt what the character was portraying in that moment. It tugged at your inner most feelings of despair and hatred while also empowering you to hope, be courageous and continue to fight the good fight in your own life, no matter how hard it gets.

But, watching other women be enslaved and treated as property solely used for sex and procreation was hard to bare. I felt so much anger, and found myself bitter towards men after watching this movie. I felt they over did the theme of bashing men. However, there was so much more, both good and bad, that went on in this film. It was entertaining, unforgettable and disturbing.

I recommend soft-hearted individuals be wary of viewing this film. There is a part where a wife of the antagonist dies, while pregnant. The horrifying scene of her pregnant body falling to the ground from a moving vehicle, only to be hit by another oncoming vehicle was painfully unsettling, to say the least. Then, a callous and grotesque man cuts the dead baby from the dead mother, tosses the corpse aside, then proceeds to play with the severed umbilical cord. To me, the movie makers crossed the line here. I will never forget that moment, and it will haunt me for years to come. However, that scene did make a point and struck a cord. This was an illustration of utter human depravity. You see a glimpse of how evil humans can be.

This cinematic novelty reminds us that humans are innately evil and in need of a savior. Even the good guys break sometimes. We are also reminded that until we go to heaven we must constantly fight against evil. I felt that the antagonist was portraying the devil himself and his minions were misguided people who followed him and were now his demons. The fleeing protagonist and group of courageous women were Christians, confused on if they should give up and return to their evil master who enslaved them or if they should keep fighting even though all hope is lost. See all »

Others say this is an analogy of Exodus. I certainly could see that, however, the antagonist was so evil, I don’t know if Pharaoh would even compare. That being said, there were remarkable similarities: fleeing in the desert, a master fighting to bring back his slaves, a fallen and broken hero (Max=Moses), water from the rocks… the list goes on.

However, it doesn’t really matter if this post-apocalyptic, good vs. Evil film portrays a chase scene with a “bad guy” who reminds you of Pharaoh, Satan, or simply a disgusting fallen man and his world of oppressed and brain washed subjects.

Bottom line, this movie, without a doubt, leaves you with three take-aways: 1)be impressed with the stunts and awesome chase scenes and acting 2)recognize human depravity and the insane possibilities of a mob mentality and what an oppressive leader and brain-washed and/or enslaved civilization is capable of, and, 3)feel blessed that we live in such a place and time where we can feel a sense of safety and security as we worship and live how we please while also having the basic needs of life.

This reminds us to be thankful for the simple things like water, green grass, food, air we can breathe in, skin without boils, and no master enslaving us. I am glad I watched this movie because it made me reflect, dig deep, try to understand my feelings and look at it from a Christian perspective. I turned to the word and God, which is always a good thing. It made me feel deeply and ponder critically.

If you can prepare yourself mentally and emotionally and recognize that you will be both negatively and positively affected by this movie, then I charge you to watch and reflect.

But, be sure to pray for God’s protection from evil and ask that he guide you in your own life and help you be courageous and fight every day against evil, even if sometimes you break and feel hopeless. This life is not easy and being a Christian is not easy. We must fight and keep on keepin” on, until we reach the Promise Land.

My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Hannah Neal, age 26 (USA)

Negative

Negative—I really loved the “Road Warrior” because Max was a saviour archetype willing to sacrifice himself to save others in a world gone mad. In “Fury Road,” Max is the impotent (can’t really call him) hero. The pathos of the previous films is all but gone, replaced by shock and awe. In our contemporary world where louder is better, “Mad Max: Fury Road” hits its key audience. No character development, just explosions and “really wicked stunts.”

I actually left the film when a scene involving a pregnant woman was too hideous to watch. I am unsure if this is now the litmus test for contemporary audiences, i.e., seeing how much depraved ugliness they can be proud to devour—like a trophy of sorts. I am feeling sad that so many movies are hollow now. Like the Romans, our entertainment is becoming the spectacle of death. Gratuitous violence is the quickest thrill.

While the actress who played the pregnant woman goes to buy a new Hollywood Hills home with her paycheck, I’ll go back home and read Acts. (And the actress actually did buy the house with husband Jason Statham.)My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5

Negative—Contrary to some comments from other viewers, this is not an “Exodus” movie in a Biblical sense whatsoever. That the protagonists need “something to believe in” and that everyone else is ultra-violent, because they are without “religion” says nothing about any of the character’s relationship with God… and the scraps of morality that you’re left with merely boils down to: “their humanity vs. my humanity,” leaving morality an open playground without ultimate rules of right or wrong.

In reality, it is God who decides what is right or wrong, not humans, and not actions of mercy or violence. Each of these tempers, when understood from a Biblical perspective, are important to surrender up to God’s approval before going forward with them. For instance, it is good, from a Biblical perspective, to be “merciful” to your spouse by making love to them when they need it, thus keeping them out of the world’s temptation. It is not merciful, however, to make love to anyone else, so that their sexual urges are quelled. It is wrong. See all »

Similarly, it is right to “violently” oppose temptation in our hearts with our emotional attachment to God. It is wrong, however, to use violence to fuel our egos when we are wronged. This second type of morality is the kind of sexual and violence laden content in movies such as “Mad Max.” If we’re to compare the violence of this movie with the Old Testament, it should be remembered that God did not approve of all of the violence in the Septuagint. In fact, there are many places where He openly states that some people performing something as “mundane” as animal sacrifices were “covered in blood.” The language is that of disgust with their behavior. This is exactly why the extermination of the Canaanites was a serious enough affair that God gave them 400 years to repent before their judgment would come, and 1000 years before the Flood overtook the Earth. They were not a peaceful people and acted more like wild lions than human beings.

According to the report of his spies (and much sound Biblical analysis by Biblical scholars), Joshua was commanded to rid the land of giants, or the descendants of the Nephilim (Ever seen Jack and the Beanstalk? Yep, some giants were actually described in the Bible as being literally as tall as trees. There is nothing physically impossible with this idea, as many other animals have been known to experience gigantism. These creatures were extremely violent, and the land was figuratively ready to “vomit them out” of it.) The act of God in ridding the Earth of such violent giant tribes, and those allied with them, is that first, the God-derived form of morality already described…

but watching a movie that glories and revels in the desolation of human beings for sport, such as “Mad Max,” leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and a depreciation of our fellow man.

Luke, age 32 (USA)

Negative—Being a Mad Max fan, I guess now that I am older, my views as a Christian have become more mature. I had intended on seeing this movie, but after hearing about what was in it, I decided not to and urge people to avoid it you can. Most people know these movies are R-rated because the are set in a post-apocalyptic world of insanity. Religion, so to speak, isn’t around. Just violence, sex and survival.

One particular scene a friend told me about made me not want to see it for sure. I knew already in the movie woman are slaves, they are also kept as “breeders”. But one scene shows a heavy chested woman being “milked” by a machine. And the men drink this milk later on. If that is not bad enough, you see people’s faces half blown off. Limbs taken off. There’s a scene where bodies are hung from a ceiling, as they spew blood everywhere. Some bodies are half eaten, which implies cannibalism. In a very disturbing scene, a baby is cut out from a mother off-screen. Then the baby, when dead, is seen being tossed away like garbage as someone else plays with the umbilical cord like it’s a toy.

…Like I said, I used to love this series, but I really feel compelled to warn others this movie is full of vile disgust, and, as a Christian, it’s probably best to avoid this one.

Matt S, age 33 (USA)

Negative—I can’t understand how any “Christian” would watch a movie such as this, even for pure entertainment. Would you feel comfortable if Jesus was sitting next to you in the theater watching movies like this? Christians nowadays scarcely resemble the ones from New Testament times.